Package for holding and transporting product

ABSTRACT

A package for holding and transporting product, the package comprising a container having walls defining a void and a strap comprising a first end and a second end and having a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product, said strap disposed within said void intermediate at least one of a plurality of said walls and the product, said first end and said second end accessible through one of said walls to remove said strap and the product from said container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] (Not applicable)

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] (Not applicable)

TECHNICAL FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This disclosure is directed generally toward a container, having a strap disposed therein, which facilitates unpacking and transporting product and a method of using the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND

[0004] Since the advent of packaged product, the handling thereof has presented a continuous and ongoing problem for retailers. Removing packaged product from a container and transporting that product to a desired location is both time and labor intensive and consequently is a poor allocation of retailers' resources. Not surprisingly, retailers have frequently complained about, and sought a solution for, this costly problem.

[0005] The following is the common scenario encountered in the retail setting. A retailer receives a shipment of product at the store. That product is packaged in containers, typically cardboard boxes. From a receiving area, these containers are then taken to the selling floor, either directly or after spending a period of time in a storage area.

[0006] Normally, several units of product are packed in the same container with the product often being stacked in the container. When presenting product for sale to consumers, retailers follow a fairly standard procedure, whereby the product is typically removed from the container in the following manner. Access to the product inside the container is gained in any one of a number of conventional methods including, but not limited to, tearing along a perforation provided in the exterior of the container, lifting up and bending back flaps provided on one or more sides of the container or using a cutting tool on the container. After gaining access to the product inside the container, a retail employee typically reaches into the container, removing the product by hand. Typically, each unit of product is removed one-by-one from the container. Following removal of the product from the container, the product may then be transported to a desired location, where the product is placed on display for sale to consumers. Like product unpacking, the placement of product for display is also usually done on a unit-by-unit basis. The entire foregoing process is very time consuming and labor intensive. As such, the current state of the art of unpacking and transporting product is grossly inefficient.

[0007] An additional problem created by traditional packaging is lost labor time resulting from injury. A retail employee, who oftentimes is bending and straining in an attempt to retrieve the product from the container, carries out the above-discussed unpacking process. Because of the awkward manner in which employees routinely remove product from containers, lumbar and other physical injuries are not uncommon. These injuries often require workers to take time off the job, adding to the earlier discussed inefficiency.

[0008] Thus, there exists the need for a packaging container, which would allow for the more efficient removal and transportation of packaged product to a desired location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention addresses the above-described needs by providing a package for holding and transporting product. The package may be comprised of a container having walls defining a void and a strap having a first end and a second end and a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product. The strap may be disposed within the void intermediate at least one of a plurality of the walls and the product. The first end and the second end may be accessible through at least one of the walls to remove the strap and the product from the container.

[0010] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a package for holding and transporting product. The package may be comprised of a container having walls defining a void and a strap comprising a first end and a second end. The strap may be disposed within the void intermediate a plurality of the walls and the product. The first end and the second end may be accessible through at least one of the walls to remove the strap and the product from the container.

[0011] The present invention also provides a method for packaging a product. The method comprises providing a container having walls defining a void, and providing a strap having a first end, a second end, and a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product. The strap and the product may be disposed within the container with the strap intermediate the product and a plurality of the walls so that the first end and the second end may be accessible through at least one of the walls to remove the product from the container.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method for stocking product at a desired location. The method comprises providing a product packaged in a container by a method comprising providing a container comprising walls defining a void, providing a strap having a first end, a second end, and a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product. The strap and the product may be disposed within the container with the strap intermediate the product and a plurality of the walls so that the first end and the second end may be accessible through at least one of the walls to remove the product from the container. The method further comprises gaining access to the product within the container, and removing the product from the container by grasping the first end and the second end and lifting the strap from the container. The product may be placed in the desired location and the strap removed from the product.

[0013] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for stocking product at a desired location. The method is comprised of providing a packaged product comprising a container having walls defining a void and a strap comprising a first end and a second end and having a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product. The strap may be disposed within the void intermediate a plurality of the walls and the product. The first end and the second end may be accessible through at least one of the walls. The method further comprises gaining access to the product within the container, and removing the product from the container by grasping the first end and the second end and lifting the strap from the container. The product may be placed in the desired location and the strap removed from the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0014] For the present invention to be clearly understood and readily practiced, the present invention will be described in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 depicts a container having a strap and product disposed therein.

[0016]FIG. 2 depicts a method by which the ends of the strap may be clutched and the strap used as a sling to remove product from the container.

[0017]FIG. 3 depicts a method by which the sling may be used to transport product.

[0018]FIG. 4 depicts a method by which the product may be deposited in its desired location.

[0019]FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a method by which the product may be steadied and the strap removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, a walled container 1 for holding product 7 is supplied. A strap 5 and a quantity of product 7 are placed inside the container 1 such that the strap 5 is positioned between one or more walls 3 of the container 1 and the product 7. In one embodiment, the strap 5 may have two ends 5 a and 5 b and may be greater in length than a perimeter of the product 7, wherein the length of a perimeter of the product 7 is defined by the sum of the lengths of four sides of the total product 7 being unpacked. Not intending to be limited in any way, applicant provides the following examples. If one piece of product 7 were being removed, it is that one piece's perimeter that is measured. If, on the other hand, a stack of three pieces of product 7 is being unpacked, the perimeter of that stack of three is the proper measurement to be taken. This formula for determining the length of product 7 perimeter applies regardless of how many pieces of product 7 are being unpacked at any one time. The two ends of the strap 5 a and 5 b may be made accessible through at least one wall 3 of the container 1, so that the strap 5 and product 7 can be removed from the container 1 by grasping the two ends of the strap 5 a and 5 b, ideally in one hand.

[0021] The container 1 and strap 5 may be any material suitable for carrying and supporting product 7. For example, the container 1 may be a cardboard box and the strap 5 may be made of plastic, and also may be elongate. Also, the strap 5 may surround the product 7, with the two ends of the strap 5 a and 5 b being adjacent to one wall 3 of the container 1.

[0022] In an additional embodiment, a walled container 1 for holding product 7 is supplied. A strap 5 and a quantity of product 7 may be placed inside the container 1 such that the strap 5 is positioned between one or more walls 3 of the container and the product 7. The strap has two ends 5 a and 5 b, which may be made accessible through at least one wall 3 of the container 1, so that the strap 5 and product 7 can be removed from the container 1 by grasping the two ends of the strap 5 a and 5 b. In an alternate embodiment, the strap 5 may be longer than a length of the perimeter of the product 7.

[0023] Variations of the above-described container 1 known to those of ordinary skill in the packaging art may also be used. It is contemplated that various strap and container designs may be employed in the practice of the present invention. For example, an elongate strap 5, having a substantially uniform width, as illustrated, may be utilized. In addition, a strap having more than two ends may be used as part of the present disclosure. For example, straps having four ends, such as X-shaped and H-shaped straps (not shown) may be employed in the present invention. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that each of the four ends of the strap may extend around the perimeter of the product that may provide added stability to the product while transporting the product to its desired location.

[0024] In addition, it is contemplated that more than one strap may be used to remove product from the container. Without intending to be limited in any way, applicant provides the following example relating to a stack of four pieces of product. One strap may be used to remove the top two pieces of product packaged in the container, while a second strap may be used to remove two bottom pieces of packaged product, which are located beneath the top two pieces of product. This particular configuration may prove particularly useful for removing a stack of product that may otherwise be too heavy for removal with one strap alone, either, for example, because of the potential for strap failure or because of the difficulty in lifting and transporting an entire stack of product.

[0025] FIGS. 2-6 serve as the reference point in reviewing the following embodiments. An embodiment is found in a method of packaging a product 7, wherein a container 1 is provided. A strap 5 with two ends 5 a and 5 b, which has a length greater than the length of the perimeter of the product 7 being packed, is disposed within the container 1 between at least one of the walls 3 of the container 1 and the product 7. The strap 5 is made accessible through at least one of the walls 3 so that the strap 5 and product 7 may be removed.

[0026] Another embodiment lies in the stocking of product 7 at a desired location. A product 7 may be packaged in a container 1 by providing a container 1, providing a strap 5 having two ends 5 a and 5 b, wherein the strap 5 may be longer than the length of a perimeter of the product 7. The strap 5 may be disposed within the container 1 between at least one wall 3 of the container 1 and the product 7, so that the first end 5 a and second end 5 b are accessible through at least one of the walls 3. After gaining access to the product within the container, the product 7 may be removed from the container 1 by grasping the two ends of the strap 5 a and 5 b and lifting the strap 5 and product 7 from the container 1. The product 7 may then be placed in a desired location and the strap 5 removed from the product 7.

[0027] As discussed above, access to the product inside the container is gained in any one of a number of conventional methods including, but not limited to, tearing along a perforation provided in the exterior of the container, lifting up, and bending back, flaps provided on one of the sides of the container, or using a cutting tool on the container.

[0028] Another embodiment is seen in a method of stocking product 7 at a desired location. A packaged product 7 is supplied. This packaged product 7 may be housed in a walled container 1, a strap with two ends 5 a and 5 b and having a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product 7 may be disposed within the container 1 and positioned between at least one wall 3 of the container 1 and the product 7, so that the first end 5 a and second end 5 b are accessible through at least one of the walls 3. After gaining access to the product 7 within the container 1, the product 7 may be removed from the container 1 by grasping the two ends of the strap 5 a and 5 b and lifting the strap 5 and product 7 from the container 1. The product 7 may be placed in the desired location and the strap 5 removed from the product 7.

[0029] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications that are within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A package for holding and transporting product, the package comprising: a container having walls defining a void; and a strap comprising a first end and a second end and having a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product, said strap disposed within said void intermediate at least one of a plurality of said walls and the product, said first end and said second end being accessible through at least one of said walls to remove said strap and the product from said container.
 2. The package of claim 1, wherein said strap is comprised of plastic.
 3. The package of claim 1, wherein said container is comprised of cardboard.
 4. The package of claim 1, wherein the strap is elongate.
 5. The package of claim 1, wherein said strap surrounds the product, and wherein said first end and said second end are adjacent one said wall.
 6. A method for packaging a product, the method comprising: providing a container comprising walls defining a void; providing a strap having a first end, a second end, and a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product; and disposing the strap and the product within the container with the strap intermediate the product and a plurality of the walls so that the first end and the second end are accessible through at least one of the walls to remove the product from the container.
 7. A method for stocking product at a desired location, the method comprising: providing a product packaged in a container by a method comprising providing a container comprising walls defining a void, providing a strap having a first end, a second end, and a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product, disposing the strap and the product within the container with the strap intermediate the product and a plurality of the walls so that the first end and the second end are accessible through at least one of the walls to remove the product from the container; gaining access to the product within the container; removing the product from the container by grasping the first end and the second end and lifting the strap from the container; placing the product in the desired location; and removing the strap from the product.
 8. A method for stocking product at a desired location, the method comprising: providing a packaged product comprising a container having walls defining a void, and a strap comprising a first end and a second end and having a length greater than a length of a perimeter of the product, the strap disposed within the void intermediate a plurality of the walls and the product, so that the first end and the second end are accessible through at least one of the walls; gaining access to the product within the container; removing the product from the container by grasping the first end and the second end and lifting the strap from the container; placing the product in the desired location; and removing the strap from the product.
 9. A package for holding and transporting product having a perimeter, the package comprising: a container having walls defining a void; and a strap comprising a first end and a second end, said strap disposed within said void intermediate a plurality of said walls and the product, said first end and said second end accessible through at least one of said walls to remove said strap and said product from said container.
 10. The package of claim 10, wherein the strap has a length greater than a length of the perimeter. 